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June 7, 1927.

w. A. RHOADES ET AL METHOD AND MEANS FOR SKIMM ING GLASS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jul 22, 1925 INVE N T [J E 5- Warren H. Phoqdea. Thomas C. HVfm/ey AT T, I] H N E Y.

June 7, 1927.

W. A. RHOADES ET AL METHOD AND MEANS FOR SKIMMING GLASS Filed July 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE N T [In El- Warren H. h q fi- Thomas GH /Wiley. M

AT T [I HNEYI.

Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN A. RHOADES, 0F SHREVEPQBT LOUKSIANA, AND THOMAS C. MGKINLEY, OF

CHARLESTON, \VEST VIRGINIA, ASS:

. lil'ftlilfi '11? THE LIBBEY-OWENS SHEET GLASS METHOD AND MEANS SKIMMING GLASS.

Application. filed my 22,

The present invention relates to sheet glass apparatus, and has particular refer ence to means for skinnuing the glass from which the s leet is drawn, the skimmed glass being drawn oil in sheet form, after which it i transferred into cullet.

An imports tob ect of the invention is to provide means for continuously skimm'ur the surface of the molten glass from which the sheet is drawn. the skimmed oglass helm};

drawn oil in sheet form, the sheet \vhile hot being subjected to means for breaking it up into cullet which he used in in the hatch from which the molten glass is produced.

Other objects and advanta of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following' description.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

1 is a fragmentary vertical lonaitir diual section through a sheet glass apparatus illustrating my device in use, one end of the section being on a reduced scale,

Fig. 2 is a transverse,section Showing: one construction for removing "the skii'nmcd glass, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the entire machineillustrating' how the skimmed glass can he run hack and reintroduced in the dog-house of the furnace.

In the manufacture of sheet glass. the batch is introduced Within one end of the tank furnace in What is known as the dog.- house. The batch Which comprises the ingredients which to make up the molten glass also includes a certain amount of cullet. Cullet is hroken glass. and asp parently improves the quality of molten glass when it is used.

The surface of the molten glass produced usually contains a cerain amount of dirt or scum which is detrimental to the finished sheet which is drawn. Numerous schemes such as floaters have been used to dam up the. surface glass so that it can be ladled off. This is not entirely satisfactory as it is impossible to hold back all of the surface scum and other foreign matter by the use of floaters.

In the present invention two or more sheets are drawn, the first sheet or two he- Serial No. 45,335.

ing drawn to remove the surface scum and other foreign matter, thus leaving a clean body of glass from which a commercial sheet of glass may be drawn. The surface skimming; sheet may he broken up into cullet so that there is no actual. Waste as far as the removal of the glass in the tank is concerned. while the. qualitv of coniunercial sheet drawn will he greatly improved.

in the drawings, the numeral designates a form of tank furnace which may be used and includes at one end a. dog house (3 through. which a batch is introduced Within a furnace. Regenerators 7 are used to melt the hatch to form a mass of molten glass 8. The glass flows through the furnace to the refining end 9 into a coolino" chamber l0 and draw-pot 11 from which h sheet 12 may he drawn. It has been common practice herehifore to place a floater which is nothing; more thana refractorv slab or bar in the refining end or cooling chamber of the furnace in an effort to hold back anv toij'eug'u matter which may be present on. the surface of the glass.

In the present invention the surface of the molten glass is skimmed by drawing a. sheet 13. The sheet 13 may be draivn from the cooling chamber or refining end and may be drawn in a similar manner to that in which the commercial sheet 12 is drawn. Of course exceptional care need not be exercisde in the formation of the sheet 13 as it is drawn purely for the purpose of skimming the molten glass. If desired, the rotatable knurled rolls l t Which are conmonly used, may he provided to insure that a sheet be drawn, thus skimming the glass across its entire Width. The sheet 13 may be deflected over the rolls l5 and run into a hopper 16 Where sprays of cold Water 17 may he applied to the hot glass, cracking it up to form cullet 18. The cullet may he moved along the trough by means of the endless conveyor 19 Where it is dumped down through the chute 20 into a container 21. The Which flows to the draw-pot 11 Will then be clean so that the quality of the sheet 12 will be superior to a sheet drawn from a similar apparatus wherein the sur face glass is not skimmed off.

In Fig. 3 a modified construction used wherein the scavenger sheet is drawn similar to the sheet 12. deflected over a roll lllli 14, being reheated as at 15, passes over the top of the tank furnace 5, being supported upon the rolls 16, and is adapted to be reintroduced into the furnace through the do house 6. i

- arious methods may be devised for handling this sheet after it has been drawn, the broad idea being to skim the molten glass to remove foreign matter so that a first-class commercial sheet may be produced. V v a: It is to beunderstood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment ofthe same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing'from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims. V

Claims: I .i

V 1. The process of producing sheet glass, oons1st1ng in providing a mass of molten glass, skimming the molten glass by'draW ring the surface therefrom in sheet form, and then drawing a sheet from the skimmed glass. v i

2. The process of producing sheet glass, consisting in creating a mass of molten 'glass, skimming the molten glass by drawface thereof, and means for drawing a coin mercial sheet from the glass thathas been skimmed.

5. In sheet glass apparatus, means for containing a mass of molten glass, means amass of molten glass, means for removing the surface of the glass in sheet form before it reaches the draw-pot, means for forming the surface glass into cullet, and means for drawing a sheet-from the glass in the draw-pot. v V i a 8. In sheet glass apparatus, a tank fura tank furi nace including a drawpot and containing a mass of molten glass, means'for skimming the molten glass and returning the skimmed portion back to the intake end of the furn'ace;

In' sheet glass apparatus, a tank furthe molten glass and returning the skimmed portion back to the intake end of the furnace, and means fordrawing a sheet from the remaining glass.

10. In sheet glass apparatus, atank furnace including a draw-potand contaii'iing .a mass of molten glass, means for removing the surface glass in sheet form and returning it to the intake end of the furnace. and means for drawing a commercial sheet from the remaining glass in the draw-pot. I

Signed at Shreveport, in the parish of Caddo, and State of Louisiana, this 13th day of July, 1925.

Wi. enn AQRHOADES.

Signed at Charleston. in the county of Kanawha, and State of Vest Virginia, this 7th day of July, 1925. f

THOMAS C. MoKlNLE Y. 

